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Author Topic: yew american flat bow  (Read 11384 times)

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Offline 65x55 swedis

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yew american flat bow
« on: December 23, 2011, 02:52:59 am »
here is a flat bow that i am building with only hand tools only ;D. it is my self bow that has knots in it. any tips or advice it would be very helpful. thanks all o and more pics to come
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Offline Del the cat

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Re: yew american flat bow
« Reply #1 on: December 23, 2011, 05:47:16 am »
That's looking like a nice stave.
I'd leave the knots sticking out fairly proud (at least 1/8", you can always trim them more later on) and keep an eye out for any rotten knots, I've had ones the size of a pencil which were black but looked solid...they weren't. If they are blak dig 'em out and fill 'em with a peg. In the pic, yours look nice and clean.
The sapwood looks fairly thin which is nice.
The only problem may be getting the draw weight down without loosing all the heartwood off the belly, there are several ways round it. Go narrower, de-crown the bow or reduce the sapwood thickness. A combination of all 3 may be appropriate.
Looks like it should make a nice bow.
Del
BTW. I've seem 'em done with the sapwood showing as a thin line down either side of the belly (like it is now) and also with the edges of the bow trimmed so the belly just shows heart wood. Both looks good, I've only done the second option myself.
« Last Edit: December 23, 2011, 05:52:11 am by Del the cat »
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Offline Buckeye Guy

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Re: yew american flat bow
« Reply #2 on: December 23, 2011, 11:32:14 am »
I'm lazy so I would use the flat side for the back and start cutting through that other junk !
But thats just me !
Guy
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Offline coaster500

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Re: yew american flat bow
« Reply #3 on: December 23, 2011, 11:53:15 am »
That's a nice stave!!

Should make a looker and a shooter.

I wish I had something constructive to give but haven't been at this long enough, but from all I've read and seen that sapwood is as valueable in tension as the heart is in compression....   Del's advice seems very sound to me considering the domenations of your stave..

Good luck, can't wait to see your progress :)

« Last Edit: December 24, 2011, 12:04:50 am by coaster500 »
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Offline Blacktail

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Re: yew american flat bow
« Reply #4 on: December 23, 2011, 01:56:56 pm »
i dont think those pin knots will do any thing...BUT,if you see cracking in the knots then put some super glue on them..that stave looks really good..the sap wood ratio looks sweet...SO,is it a branch or sapling tree...and is there any way of finding out how many growth rings an inch..john
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Offline 65x55 swedis

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Re: yew american flat bow
« Reply #5 on: December 23, 2011, 09:40:06 pm »
would it be better to have the knots on top limb or the bottem limb the knots are not roten at all
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Offline Elktracker

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Re: yew american flat bow
« Reply #6 on: December 23, 2011, 11:16:00 pm »
Look forward to seeing your progress on this one, I would say the top limb would be best for the knots as the bottom limb is usually working harder depending on how you place your grip. Others may have a different opinion but this is just me :D

Josh
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my friends think my shops a mess, my wife thinks I have too much bow wood, my neighbors think im redneck white trash and they may all be right on the money!!

Josh Vance  Netarts OR. (Tillamook)

Offline crooketarrow

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Re: yew american flat bow
« Reply #7 on: December 24, 2011, 12:31:41 am »
  I'd also leave the knots.
  I build all bows with just hand tools. Never used a saw or sander on a bow in my life. Thats not very primitive.
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Offline Del the cat

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    • Derek Hutchison Native Wood Self Bows
Re: yew american flat bow
« Reply #8 on: December 24, 2011, 06:09:25 am »
Knottiest limb to the top I'd say as it doesn't work so hard (as has already been suggested). For the same reason I usually put any naturally deflexed limb to the bottom.
In you pic, the two outer knots are no prob as they are on the centreline. The middle knot of the three is the tricky one, prob not enough wood to wriggle the loimb around it and loose the knot, so just keep it there with a little wood round the side of it and tiller to suit, maybe you'll find if the draw weight is high, you can narrow the bow and loose that knot, but the you can only hope the stave will tell you what to do as you start to work it down.
Signing off for the hol' have a good un guys.
Del
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Offline Little John

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Re: yew american flat bow
« Reply #9 on: December 24, 2011, 11:56:51 am »
It is hard to get the feel for the wood from only a photo, just use your good judgement and let the wood tell you where the bow lies in the wood. If you are considering a backward bow be suree to exzamine the prospective back for defects such as pin knots lying close to the back. Maybe a backing is in order. Good luck and merry Christmas.        Kenneth
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Offline 65x55 swedis

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Re: yew american flat bow
« Reply #10 on: December 24, 2011, 01:24:56 pm »
well i am makeing the bow for my nefew he like hunting and archery so i decided to make him a bow i think 25# will be more than enough o he is 8 or cant remember
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Offline 65x55 swedis

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Re: yew american flat bow
« Reply #11 on: December 24, 2011, 03:52:46 pm »
did some more work on it yesterday got the shape started and handle started and started to foor tiller lightly to get a feel of which side needs more material taken off.looks like i will have to steam it a little to line the nocks up but should be ok even if i dont
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Offline 65x55 swedis

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Re: yew american flat bow
« Reply #12 on: December 26, 2011, 04:50:38 pm »
hey the limbs on the bow are a 1.5 in wide should i bring it down to a 1 inch or keep it wide cause of the knots
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Offline Elktracker

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Re: yew american flat bow
« Reply #13 on: December 26, 2011, 04:56:16 pm »
I personally would leave them 1 1/2 wide

Josh
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my friends think my shops a mess, my wife thinks I have too much bow wood, my neighbors think im redneck white trash and they may all be right on the money!!

Josh Vance  Netarts OR. (Tillamook)

Offline 65x55 swedis

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Re: yew american flat bow
« Reply #14 on: December 26, 2011, 05:51:01 pm »
i am also haveing trouble getting the sting to line up. it is off to one side of the bow should i steam one of the limbs to bring it back into line?
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